The Mind: Christian and Ameircan

DANGEROUS Pastors and Prophets today like in Jeremiah 23:16 “MAKE YOU VAIN”.
I. From Pastors and Prophets of Lightness, vanity, dreams, ignore burdens, and give visions of their own hearts of Jeremiah 23.

https://sungrist.net/2017/03/02/pastors-and-prophets-of-lightness-vanity-dreams-ignore-burdens-and-give-visions-of-their-own-hearts-of-jeremiah-23/
6. Pastors and Prophets that teach the people to walk in vanity of Jeremiah 23. And the above vain and light quote, sort of like a false dream or vision that comes with chanting, brings us naturally to see what the teaching of vanity in the Bible and like in Joel means.
(1). The “walk in vanity” of Jeremiah 23:16.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
a. First of all you will note that Joel seldom quotes as other preachers do from the Bible, does not justify his unfounded visions and dreams on the proof of the scripture; and in fact most preachers sadly miss any of the language and thoughts of the Bible. We naturally wonder what is the source of these bold statements except in dreams and statements. Every preacher has a library, it would be interesting to see what is the library of Joel and what are the major books which he notes, say for example Alice in Wonderland or How to win friends and influence people. How does he known so well what people want, or how to tell them what the people want to hear? If we knew the books Joel reads and on which he does research, we could know the secret of his success except for the fact that Satan is backing him. It certainly is not the Bible, and the Bible gets only some lip service like for example from Satan when he was tempting Jesus.
(2). And for more background on “vain” and “vanity” we must go back to Jeremiah 2.
“Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jeremiah 2:5)
(3). What does the phrase “make you vain” of Jeremiah 23:16; and furthermore since we are free Americans how could anybody MAKE us vain, or how did the bad and destructive pastors and prophets of Jeremiah make the people vain. We turn to some good commentaries again–
NOTE: Already we suspect that: (1) Osteens advice is superficial and makes one live in vanity with focus on themselves rather than Christ; and (2) it would have to be already what they want or desire, or they coud not yield themselves to the make over; or (3) most likely it is already the world way they live and think, just liking reinforcement from somebody famous. Sort of like real Christians appreciate encourgement from their respected conservative and Christian authors and authorities. After all, how could anyone be full of wind and bull that has grown one of the largest churche in the world, that writes best-selling books, and preaches to millions.
a. Make you vain from Ellicott’s commentary–
(16) They make you vain.—i.e., they befool, deceive you. As the next verse shows, they filled the people with vain hopes of peace. This was then, as always, the crucial test between the true prophet and the false. The one roused the conscience, caused pain and anger by his reproofs; the other soothed and quieted men with a false assurance (Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 14:13). They invented a vision which did not come to them from the mouth of Jehovah. (Comp. Deuteronomy 13:1-5.)
b. Make you vain from the Cambridge Bible–
16. teach you vanity] deceive you with vain hopes, speak peace to those who are going on still in wicked courses. Cp. next v. This is a test whereby the false may be distinguished from the true prophet.
c. And lastly from the Pulpit Commentary–
Verses 16-22. – A warning addressed to the people against the false prophecies (comp. Ezekiel 13.). Verse 16. – They make you vain; i.e. fill you with vain imaginations. A similar phrase occurs in Jeremiah 2:5, on which see note. A vision of their own heart; the heart being the center of the intellectual as well as of the moral life, according to the Hebrew conception.
(4). “walked after vanity and are become vain” in Jeremiah 2:5.
“Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jeremiah 2:5)
a. From the Cambride Bible–
“…and are become vain] have their characters assimilated to the objects which they serve. Cp. Romans 1:21 f., they “became vain in their reasonings … they became fools.”
b. From Ellicott’s–
(5) Vanity.—In the special sense, as a synonym for idol-worship (Deuteronomy 32:21; 1Kings 16:13). As in the character of a husband wronged by his wife’s desertion Jehovah pleads with His people, and asks whether He has failed in anything.
c. In the bigger context of Matthew Henry–
2:1-8 Those who begin well, but do not persevere, will justly be upbraided with their hopeful and promising beginnings. Those who desert religion, commonly oppose it more than those who never knew it. For this they could have no excuse. God’s spiritual Israel must own their obligations to him for safe conduct through the wilderness of this world, so dangerous to the soul. Alas, that many, who once appeared devoted to the Lord, so live that their professions aggravate their crimes! Let us be careful that we do not lose in zeal and fervency, as we gain knowledge.

NOTE: If we could only know how many church members we suspect in Lakewood of which that is true as we have known some in Houston. By their fruits you shall know them, and if only we could see some fruits of Lakewood besides size, as Dobbins wrote “You can fill a church with empty people.”

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Published by sungrist3in1

Newer profile for Scottish Corner Research and Photos to a fighting Highlander; however it would seem that they more accurately made contributions as farmers and Presbyterians, also contributing to the Scot and Scot-Irish pioneer spirit that made such a contribution to America. Often settlers would strive to use them as "arrow catchers" outside their own settlements. However, in search of land for a living, they were up to the task. The big rural Ulster scene reminds us of perhaps the main thrust for pioneering with a farm scene, courtesy of Scot in Ulster.
Of course even in Ulster they felt pressures against freedom of worship from the Anglicans and Irish Catholics.
http://www.biblecombibleman.com/ScottishCorner.html﻿
View all posts by sungrist3in1